Caribbean Green Seasoning is a fresh, flavorful herb blend that is used for marinating meats, fish, or stirred into stews, and is widely used among the Caribbean islands. This fresh herb paste brings instant island flavor to your table.
The full recipe with ingredients/instructions is available on the recipe card at the bottom of the post. Important tips/tricks are also included in the blog post.
The Caribbean is known for its delicious, bright, and flavorful combinations. The use of fresh herbs, bold peppers, and lots of spice tends to stand out. When I think of authentic green seasoning, I think of Trinidad and Tobago, where this seasoning as I know it originated. Many Caribbean recipes call for a spoonful or two of this herbaceous mix to deepen the flavor.
In Trinidad, this blend is sometimes called “green seasoning” or simply “seasoning,” and it often features culantro, also known locally as chadon beni, an intensely aromatic herb similar to cilantro but with a stronger, more pungent flavor.
The formula for green seasoning is to have herbs, a pepper or two, and some lime, vinegar, or water to blend the seasoning with. Once made, it’s either stored in the refrigerator or frozen for later and added to many delicious recipes throughout the week.
Traditionally, this seasoning is used as a marinade for meats, fish, and vegetables. I like to use it as a marinade as well as a finishing herb.
A Quick Look at The Ingredients
- Cilantro or culantro, or a mix - I can't always find culantro in stores, so I usually use just cilantro.
- Aromatics - Green Onions, fresh thyme, yellow onion, celery stalks, garlic cloves, red or green pepper, hot pepper
- Liquids and Seasoning - Lime juice, vinegar, or water, salt
Recommended Tool
I often reach for this food processor when prepping herbs, vegetables, or sauces. It’s compact, efficient, and powerful enough to handle everything from leafy greens to tougher ingredients—making it a reliable tool for everyday cooking.
How to Make Green Seasoning
Step 1: First, gather all your ingredients and wash all your herbs. I also like to roughly chop my peppers, celery, and onions before adding them to a food processor.
Step 2: Add all the ingredients to a food processor and process until smooth.
If you like your green seasoning a little chunky, just pulse to your desired consistency. For a wetter more pureed seasoning, process until well blended. I like to keep mine a little chunky so I can also use it as a herb salsa.
Step 3: Use the seasoning as a marinade for your favorite fish, meat, or vegetables.
How to use green seasoning as a marinade?
This seasoning is usually used as a marinade. I suggest using about 2 Tablespoons for every pound of meat. Add the seasoning to meat, fish, or vegetables and rub it all over. Cover and allow it to marinate in the refrigerator until ready to cook.
I also like to add about 1 Tablespoon of oil to the seasoning when using it as a marinade.
How to store green seasoning?
Green seasoning should be refrigerated. It will last in the fridge for about a week. It can also be frozen and will last in the freezer for up to 3 months.
To freeze, place green seasoning into small ice cube trays and freeze until solid. Once solid, place in a freezer-friendly bag.
I love using these small trays for freezing herbs or oils in 2 Tablespoon portions.
Tanya's Notes
- This will last in the fridge for up to a week. You can also freeze small portions of it. It will last in your freezer for up to 3 months.
- Use about 1 Tablespoon green seasoning for 1 lb of meat.
- I suggest adding a little oil to meat or fish when using it as a marinade. The oil helps the seasoning coat the protein more evenly and enhances flavor absorption during cooking.
- For a wetter, more pureed seasoning, process until well blended. I like to keep mine a little chunky so I can also use it as a herb salsa.
If you have made this green seasoning, I'd love to hear your feedback in a comment below. And if you are looking for other seasonings/sauce recipes, try these out:
- Chimichurri sauce is another type of green seasoning, perfect for marinating and serving as a finishing sauce.
- Jamaican Jerk BBQ Sauce is a finishing sauce for any jerk-flavored dish.
Caribbean Green Seasoning Recipe
Ingredients
Instructions
- Add ingredients to a food processor. Pulse until finely chopped or pureed.
- Use as a marinade for your favorite meats, vegetables, and fish. You may also use it as a fresh topping.
Video
Notes
- While traditional Caribbean green seasoning often uses culantro (also known as chadon beni), I use cilantro in this version since it’s easier to find in most grocery stores. The flavor is milder, but still brings that bright, herbaceous base to the seasoning.
- This seasoning will last in the fridge for up to a week. You can also freeze small portions of it. It will last in your freezer for up to 3 months.
- Use about 1 Tablespoon green seasoning for 1 lb of meat.
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!This post was originally published on January 26, 2022. It has been updated with additional helpful information.
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